Melbourne Stars hit back over claims they are rorting the BBL salary cap

Sports writer for The Age

On fire: The Melbourne Stars are red-hot favourites to win the series. Photo: Getty Images

In-form bowler John Hastings has lashed out at questions on the legitimacy of the Melbourne Stars squad, expressing his ire at rumours the team is rorting the Big Bash League salary cap.

All but six of the Stars' 18 players have played international cricket.

While scuttlebutt about how the team accommodates such a formidable list of players within its $1.05 million salary cap has prospered since the first year of the BBL, Hastings reckons it has increased sharply this season.

The Stars are undefeated in eight matches this season.

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''It definitely was [evident from the start in 2011-12], a few whispers about, 'How the hell have they got that team together?''' Hastings said.

''But we didn't go that well in [the first two seasons]. We made the semis and choked, so there were no real murmurs. But now that we're doing really well, I think that's why people are starting to hate us a fair bit.

''I reckon [the speculation has increased], especially in the past month or so. It's been a little bit disappointing to hear certain people and certain organisations question us - basically accuse us of cheating, really.''

Stars chief executive Clint Cooper said the key to the Stars assembling and retaining a squad with so many internationals was that they had collectively committed to accepting below-market value to chase success.

''We've got 11 players who've played for us in each of the three seasons so far … the players who've come in and out are really at the bottom,'' he said. ''There's a core Victorian element, and those guys obviously like playing with each other. How do we squeeze all of that into a cap? Well, most of them took haircuts.''

Cooper said many players had accepted less money and taken longer-term contracts. He cited veteran David Hussey as an example of a player who ''took well unders when he was being offered two or two-and-a-half times more from teams north of Victoria''.

Hastings said he and his Stars teammates were proud to have stayed together after the first season of the BBL, when all players were free to move.

''There's probably six or seven guys who could be the marquee player at other franchises, but we chose to make a pact to stick around and maybe take 20 or 30 grand off our price,'' he said.

''There's no one taking the most money. I don't know what everyone's on but I think we're all around the same mark.''

Hastings said the players were particularly keen to reach the Champions League, which will occur if they beat Hobart in Tuesday's home final. ''Because then we thought we could make up the money that we might be losing in our normal retainers in the Champions League if we did stick together.''

Besides the basic ''brown paper bag'' allegation that players' wages are boosted off the books, the Stars are also accused of profiting from a surfeit of additional services agreements, paid by themselves and also sponsors to players.

All of those agreements, and the contracts they supplement, must not only be disclosed to Cricket Australia but also justified.

One example of an internal deal is Brad Hodge's role as batting coach. To demonstrate the legitimacy of the role, the Stars have to keep diaries and photographs of his activities, and even video-record his addresses to teammates.

Cooper said teams were allowed to spend a tenth of their salary cap - $105,000 - on such agreements, but insisted ''we're nowhere near that''.

CA said it took a strict stance on all aspects of salary-cap compliance and only approved third-party deals it considered to be ''a legitimate, commercially based arrangement''.

''Clubs must demonstrate to CA's satisfaction that the agreement is reasonable and appropriate, the player is being paid a fair market rate, and the proposed services are delivered,'' it said in a statement.

CA demands both sides, team management and players, sign statutory declarations that all payment arrangements are documented and disclosed.

''To even think that we would jeopardise the credibility of not only our players but also our board is just ridiculous,'' Cooper said.